The Museum of Oxford has splashed out £100,000 to buyAlice in Wonderland collectables at an auction.

The museum had funding from the National Lottery to bid for 45 items belonging to Alice Liddell - the child on whom Lewis Carroll based his character.

Alice LiddellMiss Liddell was the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, where Lewis Carroll was a maths don.

Her personal collection of memorabilia was recently auctioned at Sotheby's.

Items bought include the original biscuit tin commissioned by Lewis Carroll of which only a few hundred were produced, a dress, a fan, a calling card case, various pictures and portraits of Alice.

Museum curator John Lange said: "It was a nail-biting affair, we only got the last £17,000 of the grant on the Wednesday morning of the auction."

The collection will form the centrepiece of a new exhibition starting on June 29.

Mr Lange said: "We are very proud to get this collection, these objects are an important part of the history of Oxford and some of them have never been seen by the public."

At a city council leisure services committee meeting on Tuesday, Mr Lange was praised by councillors for his work.

Cllr Bob Hoyle said that Mr Lange was taking the museum in the right direction.